Interested in our shift knobs but unsure if they will fit your car? Here is a step-by-step guide to help you ensure the fitment.
STEP 1 - KNOW ABOUT THE ADAPTERS
- Type 1: M8*1.25mm, M10*1.25mm, M10*1.5m, M12*1.25mm
Most of our knobs come with this type of adapter, which is made of solid metal.
The letter ‘M’ and numbers here advise that the internal diameters of the adapters are 8mm, 10mm, 12mm. The numbers after that - 1.25mm and 1.5mm, are the dimensions of the internal thread pitch of the adapters. Thread pitch means the distance between the peaks of the two neighbouring thread, measured in millimeters.
Note that the external diameter of all the adapters we sell are the same - 17.5mm. The external thread pitch is also the same - 1.5mm.
This type of adapters is suitable for gear levers that have existing threads.
This adapter type is compatible with: THE NAGAO, THE OBSIDIAN, THE GLOSSI, THE DOT, THE BULLET, THE BAMBOOI.
- Type 2: M8, M10, M12
You may have come across a non-threaded version of the above Type 1 adapters, which is usually made of plastic. This type of adapters have NO internal thread, but are still designed for gear levers with existing threads (they are marketed as “self-threading”).
Although this type of adapters can match many different shift knob diameters and thread pitches on the market, it might be a pain to remove once installed (and unlikely can be reused) as the plastic internals deeply cut into your car’s shift lever. With heavy use, plastic threads are also not as resistant to deformation compared to metal ones.
- Type 3: M8*1.25mm, M10*1.25mm, M10*1.5mm
The letter ‘M’ and the numbers after that means the same thing as Type 1 - the internal diameters of the three adapters are 8mm and 10mm. The numbers after that - 1.25mm and 1.5mm, mean the internal thread pitch of the adapters. Thread pitch means the distance between the peaks of the two neighbouring thread, measured in millimeters. The external dimensions of this type of adapters is the same - M12*1.25mm.
This type of adapters is suitable for gear levers that have existing threads with matching thread pitch.
For now, THE HONJO MASAMUNE Ⅰ is the only shift knob that comes with this type of adapter.
- Type 4: Rubber Adapters With Hex Wrench & Mini Screws
The letter ‘M’ and the numbers after that means the same thing as the Type 1 - the internal diameters of the four adapters are 8mm, 10mm, 11mm and 12mm. This type of adapters have no internal thread nor external thread, and compatible with gear levers with or without threads. Due to the rubber’s stretchable form, they may also be suitable for gear levers in irregular shapes.
The mini screws are designed to "bite" into the adapter on three sides; thus tightly securing the adapter onto the shift lever.
For now, THE BLACKOUT and THE HONJO MASAMUNE Ⅱ are our shift knobs that come with this type of adapters.
STEP 2 - ASSESS YOUR CAR'S TRANSMISSION MECHANISM
- For cars with automatic transmissions, check if there is a button lock mechanism. If yes, then regrettably, our shift knobs are not compatible.
- For cars with manual transmission, do you have to lift the OEM shift knob up to engage the reverse gear? If yes, our shift knob might fit but may result in a slight gap between the lever and the knob (for you to reverse of course!). Continue reading to check other measurements!
STEP 3 - TAKE OFF THE OEM KNOB & OBSERVE SHAPES OF THE LEVER
- If the OEM gear lever is cylindrical threaded, go to next step
- If the gear lever is not cylindrical (for example rectangular or irregular shaped), only the Type 4 adapters may be compatible, if the OEM gear lever is small enough for the rubber adapter to fully enclose.
STEP 4 - DO THE MEASUREMENTS
This is the most important step to ensure fitment. You need to measure your gear lever’s dimensions including its external diameter and thread size. Here is a thread sizing chart for your reference, however, we strongly recommend to use a vernier calliper and a thread gauge to get the accurate measurements, or seek advise from a professional mechanic.
STEP 5 - CONFIRMATION & ADDITIONAL NOTES
Once you have confirmed that our shift knobs will fit your car, feel free to select the knob that best suits your preferences. Kindly note that in some cars, aftermarket shift knobs may result in slight mismatch or gap with the OEM shift boot. This can be addressed with aftermarket boot retainers, and our beautiful aftermarket shift boot covers.